So was it crass exploitation or successful sociological experiment?
The first season of VH1’s controversial “Celebrity Rehab” ends tonight at 10 p.m. without a definitive answer.
The show seems to have helped some of the participants, such as former porn star Mary Carey, who decided to clean up her career as well as her life, and Jeff Conaway, who stayed sober even after a premature exit from the program.
But watching the messy path to sobriety, which included numerous on-air fights, breakdowns and twitches, proved a bit too difficult for many viewers.
The penultimate episode of “Rehab” last Thursday averaged 1.2 million total viewers, down by a third from its January premiere, which drew 1.8 million.
Other VH1 programs have seen similar declines this year. Seasons two of “Rock of Love” and “Scott Baio is 46 … and Pregnant” are down from their first seasons last year. Even “Flavor of Love 3,” with network mascot Flavor Flav, seems a bit tired.
The show’s average among adults 18-49 slipped 28 percent week to week in its second outing, from 1.76 million to 1.27 million, last week.
That said, don’t expect VH1 to abandon celebreality anytime soon. The network’s adults 18-49 average in February was up 23 percent over last year, when “Baio,” “Rehab” and “Rock” were not airing.
And a second season of “Rehab” could well get a go-ahead, as the show received a huge amount of buzz, especially after Conaway (“Grease,” “Taxi”) began a press campaign recently singing the praises of Scientology for saving him.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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THURSDAY, MARCH 6
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Survivor” (R)
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It should get interesting when the fan and favorite tribes are shuffled up.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“American Idol” (R)
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Two more males and two more females are eliminated, revealing the 12 finalists.
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8 p.m.
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BET
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“College Hill Reunion” (R)
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First of a two-parter in which cast members from the first three seasons discuss their experiences.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Lost” (D)
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Juliet tries to stop Charlotte and Faraday from finishing their task.
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9 p.m.
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Fox
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“New Amsterdam” (D)
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A flashback to 1941 reveals a secret about Amsterdam.
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“Eli Stone” (D)
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Eli’s antics put him in danger of being disbarred.
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10 p.m.
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A&E
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“Crime 360” (N)
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Series premiere. Following authorities from the time they arrive at a crime scene until it’s solved.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 7
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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NBC
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“Today” (N)
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Figure skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier perform at the Rock Rink.
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8 p.m.
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NBC
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“Amne$ia” (G)
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How will it do in its second straight week against “Price is Right?”
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“The Price is Right” (G)
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Drew Carey gives contestants more chances to win $1 million.
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9:30 p.m.
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HBO
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“In Treatment” (D)
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Kate and Paul get into it when her position in his life is questioned.
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10 p.m.
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History Channel
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“Battle 360” (N)
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The Enterprise’s role in the 1942 Battle of Midway.
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10:30 p.m.
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ESPN
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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The Nuggets host the Spurs in an important Western Conference matchup.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 8
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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Noon
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CBS
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Huge Big East game between Georgetown and Louisville.
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3 p.m.
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NBC
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Third round play of the PODS Championship, from Palm Harbor, Fla.
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“College Basketball” (S)
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California takes on fun-to-watch UCLA (keep an eye on them for you office pool).
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Cops” (R)
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Street-crime cops in Oregon bust a drug deal in progress at a local park.
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9 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Can North Carolina avenge its defeat to Duke from earlier this season?
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9:30 p.m.
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HBO
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“Boxing” (S)
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Heavyweight championship match between Oleg Maskaev and Samuel Peter, live from Cancun.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 9
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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2 p.m.
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CBS
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Missouri Valley Conference tourney final, winner goes to the big dance.
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3 p.m.
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NBC
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“PGA Golf” (S)
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Final round of the PODS Championship, which Mark Calcavecchia won last year.
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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Parker, Duncan and the Spurs versus Nash, Shaq and the Suns in Phoenix.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“The Simpsons” (C)
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Marge gets a hidden-camera reality show to watch over Homer after he cheats on his diet.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Oprah’s Big Give” (G)
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The final nine contestants are each dropped in a city where they don’t know anyone, and they’re tasked with giving away money creatively.
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10 p.m.
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FX
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“Dirt” (D)
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Lucy tries to dig up info on a star who’s released early after a DUI arrest.
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10:30 p.m.
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VH1
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“My Fair Brady” (R)
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Season finale. The couple renews their wedding vows while vacationing in Hawaii.
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A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
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